The Long Arm of the Banksters

[elchivito]

CA man scribbles anti-bank slogans in chalk on city sidewalks. Feels the wrath of a judge in the banks' pockets.

California chalk protester hit with gag order ? RT USA

[jplinville]

Acquitted yesterday...

News from The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- The mayor called the case "stupid" and a jury swiftly said it shouldn't stick, taking the eraser to vandalism charges for a man who wrote anti-bank slogans on San Diego sidewalks.

A Superior Court jury deliberated for five hours after a four-day trial before acquitting Jeff Olson Monday of the 13 misdemeanor charges that could have brought 13 years in jail and $13,000 in fines.

Olson, 40, was charged with scrawling messages like "Shame on B of A" and `'No thanks, big banks" in water-soluble chalk on sidewalks outside San Diego Bank of America branches from April to August 2012. He included a drawing of an octopus reaching for dollar bills.

Olson turned to his attorney, nodded and smiled as the verdicts were read.

The trial was the latest in a series of dustups between City Attorney Jan Goldsmith, who prosecuted the case, and Mayor Bob Filner, who called it a "nonsense prosecution" that came in response to complaints from Bank of America.

"It's washable chalk, it's political slogans," Filner said last week. "I think it's a stupid case. It's costing us money."

Jail time is highly unusual for graffiti convictions, which typically result in fines or community service.

The city attorney's office said it offered to reduce the charges if Olson agreed to perform community service by cleaning up graffiti, but he refused. The office said the case was referred by the police department.

"Graffiti remains vandalism in the state of California," the city attorney's office said. "Under the law, there is no First Amendment right to deface property, even if the writing is easily removed, whether the message is aimed at banks or any other person or group. We are, however, sympathetic to the strong public reaction to this case and the jury's message."

The judge, who imposed a gag order on participants during the trial, refused to allow Olson's attorney to argue that the messages were constitutionally protected free speech. Instead, the attorney argued the messages caused no damage and were not malicious.

Olson, who was inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, said he was relieved by the outcome and that the prosecution brought more attention to his views than he ever imagined possible.

"I couldn't have done better if I rented an airplane with a banner and put billboards up all over town," he said.

[Jim B.]

This particular case was mentioned to us in iaw school.

The other day I told my g/f that to me, the most morally abhorrent job I could think of was a LAWYER for a BANK.

[elchivito]

Originally Posted by jplinville

Acquitted yesterday...

News from The Associated Press

good

[benhogan]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

This particular case was mentioned to us in iaw school.

The other day I told my g/f that to me, the most morally abhorrent job I could think of was a LAWYER for a BANK.

+1!

add to that a lawyer for a stock brokerage firm!

[Diesel911]

My Name is also on someone's Bank Of America Checking Account; and I can sign the Checks.
When I go to the local Bank of America to Cash one of those Checks I have to Swipe My Drivers Lics. and put one Finger Print on the Check.

I would not ever have an account with that Bank but the Owner of the Checking account uses that Bank because it is the closest to Her Home.

[Jim B.]

The license plates and registration card for the new BMW arrived the other day.

The loan papers I signed at the dealership showed the lienholder as "BMW Bank";

But the California 2013-2014 registration card showed the lienholder as Bank of America!

When I went back to the dealership to buy BMW accessories last week, I asked about this - as I had *NEVER* agreed to be partners on this car with that horrible Bank of America;

But I was told that the car loan had been peddled to the Bank of America on the secondary market. (I guess like home mortgages are done sometimes.)

Maybe because the loan was fairly large for a car loan, ($41,000), perhaps. I don't know.

But I bought the car intending to pay the loan off in a few months, though; so it doesn't matter too much. I had zero other debts, not a mortgage even.

Now I TOTALLY want to pay it off.

I HATE being partners with banks.

In ANYTHING at all.

Ever!

But to me, the Bank of America is the worst of the worst.

[TwitchKitty]

I was recently told by mortgage brokers that most home loans are underwritten by the same few groups no matter where you take out the loan. Loans, securities, insurance, and legislation originate mostly from the same few sources. If you take a few lessons from the Enron saga you can easily include energy, transportation, marketing and communication companies with that inbred group. Welcome to the establishment. Cradle to grave, dollar for dollar.

[Air&Road]

I don't even like having savings accounts with banks or other institutions. I am fortunate enough to have been on Earth long enough to accumulate and have no debt. I went in the bank the other day to withdraw some cash to buy my SLK. I didn't even like dealing with them for that.

When I was young I dealt with the same guy at the local bank that my Dad had dealt with since WWII. I then dealt with his son I went to high school with as he took over at the bank. I felt like I knew these people very well and STILL didn't like dealing with the bank. They did nothing wrong that I was ever aware of. I can't describe my objections. I just don't like dealing with a bank.

[Botnst]

Originally Posted by Diesel911

My Name is also on someone's Bank Of America Checking Account; and I can sign the Checks.
When I go to the local Bank of America to Cash one of those Checks I have to Swipe My Drivers Lics. and put one Finger Print on the Check.

I would not ever have an account with that Bank but the Owner of the Checking account uses that Bank because it is the closest to Her Home.

Can you vote?

[chasinthesun]

The hand in the cookie jar was the Enron scandal,overviewing curruption with little to no care of who gets carpet bagged.

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by Air&Road

I don't even like having savings accounts with banks or other institutions. I am fortunate enough to have been on Earth long enough to accumulate and have no debt. I went in the bank the other day to withdraw some cash to buy my SLK. I didn't even like dealing with them for that.

When I was young I dealt with the same guy at the local bank that my Dad had dealt with since WWII. I then dealt with his son I went to high school with as he took over at the bank. I felt like I knew these people very well and STILL didn't like dealing with the bank. They did nothing wrong that I was ever aware of. I can't describe my objections. I just don't like dealing with a bank.

I'd suggest you take a look at the Bank's lobbyists, lawyers and Ceo's and their obscene bonuses to give more clarity and coherence to your inchoate objections about what Banks do, and why.


~~~

Congrats on your new 1999 SLK ROADSTER Larry. Can you post pic's & start a thread about the car?

Are you going to part out or sell the old w124? If you part it out I'd sure like to bid on the manual tranny set up --- I bet it'd go great into my w124 1995 E420 !!! We never got cars like that in the U.S.

[Skid Row Joe]

From what jplinville CCed, it didn't read or sound like much of a case; "chalk on sidewlks?!" Puullleeeease....

I like banks. They have their purpose in business helping others.

As long as you don't owe them any money, I don't see the reason of any misdirected animus directed toward any bank?

It's the pesky Gov't. et al, that I believe are the problematic ppls with yer money.

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

This particular case was mentioned to us in iaw school.

The other day I told my g/f that to me, the most morally abhorrent job I could think of was a LAWYER for a BANK.

Jim, you have a girlfriend? I thought you had sworn off women?

[kerry]

Credit Unions.